Catalysis Letters, Vol.138, No.1-2, 34-39, 2010
Asymmetric Hydrogenation of 3,4-Hexanedione over PtSn Catalysts
In this work, some results of the liquid-phase racemic and enantioselective hydrogenation of 3,4-hexanedione are presented. The catalysts employed were platinum-based, supported on SiO2. Monometallic catalysts were modified with organotin precursors either chiral (hexa(-)-menthylditin, Men(3)Sn-SnMen(3)) or achiral (tetrabutyltin, SnBu4), and they were obtained via surface organometallic chemistry on metals techniques. Asymmetric system was selective to 4-hydroxyhexan-3-one, the enantiomeric excess achieved being 17%.